Manchester United vs West Brom: Prediction, Probable Lineups

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Article Writer :- SURDYCOLE

Manchester nchester United may have
managed to bring an end to their
long goal drought in midweek
against CSKA Moscow, but it may
not take long for the cries of
discontent to return to Old Trafford
on Saturday. Wayne Rooney’s
winner in the Champions League
on Tuesday came after nearly seven
goalless hours for Louis van Gaal’s
side, which had been accompanied
by increasing unrest from the
supporters.I

As well as chants of “We want to
attack,” there were loud boos for
the decision to replace Anthony
Martial with Marouane Fellaini in
the second half against the Russian
visitors.

United may be within four points of
the Premier League summit and top
of their Champions League group,
but there is far from universal
approval of how Van Gaal has
developed the side since taking
charge 16 months ago. And the
prospect of the goals flowing from
those in red on Saturday are not
helped by the fact that they will be
taking on a West Brom side that
has the best defensive record away
from home in the whole Premier
League this season, having
conceded just twice in five matches.

If the dissension is to continue
from those in the stands at Old
Trafford, though, Van Gaal has
requested that it be directed at him
rather than those on the pitch.
“I can only advise the fans to
criticize the manager and not the
players," he said, according to BBC
Sport . “I can cope with it. I have
had a lot of experience in my life
as a manager. It's very difficult to
play for Manchester United with a
lot of pressure and you can taste
that in Old Trafford because of all
the yelling, then it's not good for
my players.”

Van Gaal doesn’t yet know if
Morgan Schneiderlin will be among
those players on Saturday, with the
midfielder still battling an illness
that kept him out against CSKA
Moscow. But his options at right-
back will be limited with Antonio
Valencia still out injured and
Matteo Darmian suspended after
collecting his fifth booking of the
season in last week’s goalless draw
with Crystal Palace.

West Brom’s fine defensive record
on the road this campaign has been
achieved with the help of a couple
of former Manchester United
stalwarts. Center-back Jonny Evans
has started all seven of West
Brom’s Premier League matches
since he ended his 11-year stay at
Old Trafford at the end of August,
while Darren Fletcher, who moved
to the Hawthorns in February after
nearly 20 years at United, has been
an ever-present at the heart of their
midfield. West Brom’s squad also
features two former United
goalkeepers, Ben Foster and Anders
Lindegaard. Neither, though, are
likely to play on Saturday, with
Foster still coming back from a
long-term injury and Lindegaard
currently backing up Boaz Myhill.

While many former Manchester
United players, such as Paul Scholes
and Peter Schmeichel, have
criticized the style of play currently
deployed by those at Old Trafford,
Evans has a more favorable view.
“That's their opinion,” he told Sky
Sports . “To be honest I haven't seen
much of the games this season so
it's hard for me to see the way
they've been playing and give my
own opinion on it. I'm sure he will
get it right. He's a very good coach.
“He's a very hands-on coach. He
likes to be involved in all the
sessions and he sets high
standards. On a personal level I
enjoyed the training, the demands
he set and the high standards he
set on his players. He was
[enjoyable to work with]. I've no
problems. I enjoyed my time there
and felt I learned a lot from him."
Evans couldn’t prevent West Brom
going down 3-2 at home to Leicester
City last time out, a result that left
them in 12th place in the Premier
League table.

Probable lineups

Manchester United

G: De Gea
D: Young, Smalling, Jones, Rojo
M: Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin
Mata, Rooney, Lingard
F: Martial

West Brom

G: Myhill
D: Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt
M: Sessegnon, Yacob, Fletcher,
McClean
F: Berahino, Rondon

Prediction: This is unlikely to be a
thrilling spectacle for anyone
concerned. West Brom take a
cautious approach away from
home, and will look to sit in and
frustrate Manchester United and
the crowd at Old Trafford for as
long as possible, before trying to
feed the pace of Saido Berahino and
physicality of Salomon Rondon
upfront. Manchester United will
have plenty of possession, but have
often done that this season without
finding the ingenuity to break down
opponents. It is likely to be a
struggle once again, but with Van
Gaal moving Anthony Martial back
up front against CSKA Moscow,
United should have enough of a
cutting edge to eventually break
through.

Predicted score: Manchester
United 1-1 West Brom.

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